The Ancient Zeugma City is located in Belkıs Village 10
km east from Nizip / Gaziantep, by the River Euphrates.
Importance of this settlement which demonstrates an
uninterrupted in presence since the prehistorical ages
is that it is one of the two points allowing the easiest
passage across the River Euphrates. "Zeugma" already
stands for a term like "bridge head" or "passage
location". The city is an important trade centre of the
Hellenistic Era. After the region started to be ruled by
Rome, importance of the city increased upon the
settlement of a military garrison called IVth Legion.
Artistic activities increased and a cultural development
is achieved in Zeugma parallel to progress in trade
volume.

The first scientific study which proved that Zeugma is
the same place as modern Belkıs, was published in 1917.
The excavation studies in the Ancient City were started
in 1992 under the management of the Gaziantep Museum
Directorate of the Ministry of Culture, the General
Directorate of Monuments and Museums. French archaeology
team joined the studies from 1996. Number of villas
found since 1992 reached 7. Over 1000 m² base mosaic
have been found during the excavations performed up to
now. During the studies in the region which will fall
within the lake area, a Mars statue which is 1.55 m tall
was found on May 03, 2000. Many frescos (wall picture),
mosaics, small objects [seals belonging to the Roman
administrative system, bronze coins, oil-lamps, marble
statues] and ruins of architectural structures have been
found during 1999 and 2000. Portable ones of those were
moved to the Gaziantep
Museum Directorate.

During the excavations in 1992, an important base mosaic
was found in a Roman villa, belonging to Dionysus,
however 2/3 of it which was demonstrated in-situ was
stolen in 1998. During the excavations in 1993, the
terrace mosaics of Roman villas disappeared. The 2-
figure panel of the mosaic found was cut and extracted
as a result of illegal excavations and smuggled abroad
25-30 years ago. It was determined in 1994 that the
works are in the Houston Menil Collection, and agreement
was reached as a result of mutual negotiations, and the
mosaics were returned to our country in the second half
of June.

Either the Gaziantep Governorship Province Private
Administration or the Birecik Dam Consortium provided
financial contribution to the studies performed, in
addition to the resources of the Ministry of Culture.

The archaeological rescue and documentation studies in
2000, will be carried out under the management of the
Ministry of Culture and coordination of SAP, with
participation of the Prime Ministry, the South Anatolian
Project Regional Development Administration (SAP-RDA),
the Packard Humanities Institute (PHI), the Birecik Dam
and Hep Installation and Operation Co. Inc, an agreement
record was signed between SAP Administration and PHI on
June 07, 2000 to carry out urgent archaeological rescue
studies in the Ancient Zeugma City and SAP region.
According to this agreement record, PHI has undertaken
to finance the studies up to USD 5 millions.

The points having archaeological importance in Zeugma
are handled in three sections:

Area A:

A lower terrace which will fall under water in June
2000,

Area B:

Other sections which will fall under water in October
2000.
The archaeological rescue and the documentation studies
in the areas A and B which are to fall under water and
less than 1/3 part of Ancient Zeugma City will remain,
are being carried out by an extensive team formed by
Turkish, French, American, Australian, Austrian and
English (the Oxford Archaeological Unit) archaeologists,
managed by the Ministry of Culture, the General
Directorate of Monuments and Museums, the Gaziantep
Museum Directorate.

Area C:

As regards the studies to be carried out in this section
which is larger than the sum of the areas A and B, and
will not fall under water, the Ministry of Culture, the
General Directorate of Monuments and Museum, the SAP
Administration and the PHI have reached a principal
agreement, and a detailed program is being studied. In
this area, a long term excavations, restoration and
conservation of movable and immovable works, development
of an open archaeological stand, as well as construction
of a museum are contemplated, and expropriation
operations are foreseen to be included to realize them.
Mr. M. İstemihan TALAY, the Minister of Culture
attempted for expropriation of the site at the highest
level. On the other hand, it was stated that the PHI is
also ready to assign funds for expropriation, upon
agreement.

As can be seen, various self-sacrificing studies were
carried out in different fields in Ancient Zeugma City
for a long time. However, a wrong impression was
established among the public that the studies in Zeugma
were first started in 2000. Our Ministry endeavours to
keep the public informed correctly on this subject.